“I love that there’s all these hidden scenes and stories in this city that we can now hold up to the world,” Simkin explains enthusiastically of the broader goals of the locally-focused 604 Decades, which will specialize in showcasing non-active artists, and finally unearth some of the city’s most impeccable, if up-to-now underheard recordings.

604 Decades begins with a rarities collection spotlighting underground Vancouver shoegazers MOVIELAND, as well as an unreleased full-length from cult pop-rockers Pure. Both projects reflect a personal period when Simkin — entranced and inspired by his city’s then off-the-radar music scene — transitioned from his day job working as an immigration lawyer, into becoming the go-to legal representation for up-and-coming acts in town, and eventually towards the launch of 604 Records in 2001 alongside partner and Nickelback guitarist-vocalist Chad Kroeger.

“I’m getting weirdly sentimental about the music scene in Vancouver in the ‘90s and the early ‘00s, that’s very close to me,” Simkins says fondly. “It’s when I first started working in the music business. I was just a lawyer then; I didn’t even have the label — that wasn’t even something I thought of doing! I just worked with a lot of bands, and a lot of them were really fucking great.”

Proof of that greatness arrives with Movieland’s Then + Now, a collection of demos and unreleased rarities that sees release in December, 2024 and which Simkin praises as “trippy, melodic, shoegaze-y rock of a very, very high quality.” Founded in 1991 by songwriter Alan D. Boyd, the act impressed a small but dedicated fan base through raucous underground warehouse parties, and the psych-modded shoegaze demo tapes they were tracking around town. “Alan’s always had a way with melody, both vocally and with his guitar playing,” Simkin says of what drew him to Movieland in the ‘90s. “He also has a real ability to get rough around the edges with his music… abrasive, but sweetly melodic at the same time.”

It's also notable that the band’s original rhythm section — bassist John Ounpuu and drummer — were later represented by Simkin through their more pop-rocked geared next project, Pluto, with whom he helped land a deal with Virgin Music in the mid ‘90s (“I had a good batting average. I got a lot of bands signed”).

Pure is a bit of a different story. While the band’s awesomely energetic, alt-rock-spiked earworms did get a push through the U.S. major label system in the ’90s, they impossibly remained just on the cusp of stardom – your favourite rock band’s favourite rock band. With the relrelease of the album (title TK) 604 Decades reveals even more of the group’s undistilled rock ‘n’ roll genius, which was in part steered by the songwriting cool and effortless guitar hooks of the late Todd Simko, who passed away in 2012. “That’s still something reverberates really deeply for me,” Simkin recalls of his friend, “to be able to put out some music that features Todd’s performances on it is honestly an honor.”

While rooted in the past, 604 Decades has plans to keep the archival showcase going for years to come. That may mean digging into the 604 archives for hidden aural treasure, though they’re also putting out the call out to anyone that knows of a great older band, regardless of genre, that’s due for a little modern love.

“I’m having so much fun going backwards and rediscovering music, and there’s the excitement of getting to put it out there now through 604 Decades,” Simkin says.  “It feels like a second chance.”